Mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn to perform Jan. 19

MIDDLEBURY, Vt. ? At 8 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, in the Middlebury College Center for the Arts Concert Hall, internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Christianne Stotijn will perform, accompanied by Joseph Breinl on piano. Her program consists of songs by Schubert, Brahms, Strauss and Ives.

Christianne Stotijn

Born in Delft, Stotijn studied both violin and voice at the Amsterdam Conservatoire, where she earned her solo diploma for violin in 2000. She continued her vocal studies with Udo Reinemann at the Conservatoires of Amsterdam and Metz, and graduated in 2003 with the highest distinction in both song recital and opera. She was a finalist in the International Wettbewerb fur Liedkunst in Stuttgart in 2001, and received the 2005-2006 ECHO Rising Stars award and the 2005 Borletti Buitoni Award.

Stotijn made her operatic debut with the Nationale Reisopera in 2003, where she sang Carilda in Handel's "Arianna in Creta." In the 2004-2005 season, she performed at the Paris Opera as Pauline in "Pique Dame."

Stotijn has performed in her own country and abroad, with notable appearances in venues throughout Europe and the United States. Highlights of past engagements include Mahler's "Rückert Lieder" with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and with the Orchestre National de Paris at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, conducted by Bernard Haitink; Handel's "Messiah" at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam; and Mahler's "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" and "Kindertotenlieder," as well as Brahms' "Alto Rhapsody," with Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse and La Roque D'Antheron Festival.

Her oratorio performances have included Bach's "Magnificat" at the Concertgebouw; the Duruflé "Requiem," which Stotijn recorded for Channel Classics; Mozart's "Requiem," with Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse conducted by Claus Peter Flor; and, most recently, Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" and "Concerto Koln" with the Orchestre des Champs-Elysees conducted by Philippe Herreweghe.

Stotijn's performance is sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. The Middlebury College Center for the Arts Concert Hall is on South Main Street (Route 30). Reserved seating tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for seniors. For tickets or dinner reservations, call the Middlebury College Box Office at 802-443-6433. Online tickets and information are available at www.middlebury.edu/arts.